Timeline
When prophecies were given, the dates people predicted from them, proposed fulfillments and later interpretations. Choose a view: the overview shows where the material lies, the chronicle reads century by century, life-lines follow one prophecy or one line of prediction, and said vs. expected shows how far ahead each prediction looked.
Explore durations and conditions →
525 dates
Eighth century BCE · Cambridge estimate, disputed
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges introduction to Psalm 50 assigns it to the eighth century BCE on comparison with prophetic criticism of sacrifice. This is an attributed historical estimate, not consensus or an Asaph speech date. Kilchör and Weber (2014), section F, report a commonly proposed early post-exilic dating but argue instead for a setting after 722 BCE, probably under Hezekiah. These differing estimates remain explicit.
Whole-century bounds express the cited estimate; composition is disputed.
Eighth century BCE to after the exile · USCCB
The USCCB introduction says Deuteronomy was probably composed over three centuries, “from the eighth century to the exile and beyond,” and notes its relation to the book found in the Temple around 622 B.C. The source leaves the end open; 500 BCE is approximate.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Eighth century BCE to after the exile · USCCB
The USCCB introduction says Deuteronomy was probably composed over three centuries, “from the eighth century to the exile and beyond,” and notes its relation to the book found in the Temple around 622 B.C. The source leaves the end open; 500 BCE is approximate.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Sixth–fifth centuries BCE · book-level editorial dating
USCCB’s introduction says ancient Genesis traditions were edited in the sixth or fifth century BCE, and explicitly discusses Genesis 2:4–3:24 within the creation narrative. This is an attributed book-level editorial estimate.
17 October 520 BCE · seventh month, day 21
Haggai 2:1 dates the message in verses 1–9 to the twenty-first day of the seventh month. USCCB note 2:1 identifies 17 October 520 BCE. This is the message’s narrated date.
18 December 520 BCE · ninth month, day 24
Haggai 2:10 dates the priestly ruling and blessing; 2:20 introduces another message on the same date, addressed to Zerubbabel. USCCB notes 2:10, 2:18 and 2:20 identify 18 December 520 BCE.
Approximately fifth century BCE · reported setting
The discourse places this speech during the Buddha’s lifetime. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy dates his life broadly to the fifth century BCE while documenting other proposals and prolonged oral transmission.
Approximate narrated setting during the Buddha’s lifetime
Approximately fifth century BCE · reported setting
The discourse places this speech during the Buddha’s lifetime. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy dates his life broadly to the fifth century BCE while documenting other proposals and prolonged oral transmission.
Approximate narrated setting during the Buddha’s lifetime
Approximately fifth century BCE · reported setting
The discourse places this speech during the Buddha’s lifetime. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy dates his life broadly to the fifth century BCE while documenting other proposals and prolonged oral transmission.
Approximate narrated setting during the Buddha’s lifetime
5th–2nd centuries BCE · Zaehner’s estimate
Nicholas Sutton, The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies Guide (2016), p.9 / PDF page 17, cites R.C. Zaehner (1973), p.7, placing composition between the fifth and second centuries BCE.
Around 450 BCE
Zondervan’s Encyclopedia of the Bible dates composition approximately to the middle of the fifth century BCE. This is a book-level estimate.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
About 450 BCE · book composition
The Encyclopedia of the Bible dates the book to about 450 BCE. It also notes debate over whether the concluding Elijah passage is a later addition.
Approximately 450–400 BCE
USCCB favors a postexilic composition around 450–400 BCE, based on temple organization, language and use of earlier prophetic tradition.
Probably 450–400 BCE · USCCB estimate
The USCCB introduction says internal evidence favors a postexilic date for Joel’s composition, probably 450–400 B.C.; the superscription itself gives no historical setting.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Approximately 167–164 BCE · critical dating
USCCB dates Daniel’s composition to Antiochus IV’s persecution, a critical dating distinct from its earlier narrative setting.
Approximately 167–164 BCE · critical dating
USCCB dates Daniel’s composition to Antiochus IV’s persecution, a critical dating distinct from its earlier narrative setting.
Approximately 167–164 BCE · critical dating
USCCB dates the book’s composition to Antiochus IV’s persecution, 167–164 BCE, and explicitly includes chapters 7–12 as its visions. Source rechecked 11 September 2026.
Approximately 167–164 BCE · critical dating
USCCB dates Daniel’s composition to Antiochus IV’s persecution, a critical dating distinct from its earlier narrative setting.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Around 125 BCE · surviving Hebrew manuscript
The Israel Museum dates the Great Isaiah Scroll to approximately 125 BCE and states that its 54 columns contain all 66 chapters of Isaiah. This is a manuscript witness for the book containing Isaiah 11.
Approximately 30–33 CE · narrative setting
Narrative setting inferred from the Gospel placement before the Passion and the widely discussed crucifixion years, 30 and 33 CE.
Around 50 CE · Wallace’s Pauline dating
Daniel B. Wallace proposes spring–summer 50 CE and defends Pauline authorship. This is one attributed estimate.
Approximately 50–120 CE · broad proposed range
Early Christian Writings gives a broad composition range of 50–120 CE and documents disagreement over the work’s dating.
Around 51 CE
USCCB places Timothy’s return to Paul probably in early summer 51 CE and identifies it as the occasion for 1 Thessalonians.
Around 56 CE
USCCB dates Paul’s writing of this letter from Ephesus to about 56 CE. This is a letter-level composition estimate.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Between 56 and 58 CE · USCCB estimate
The USCCB introduction says Paul wrote Romans from Greece, likely Corinth, between A.D. 56 and 58.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Around 70 CE
PBS Frontline places Mark around 70 CE; USCCB describes the traditional date as shortly before 70.
Approximately 80–90 CE
USCCB reports a proposed composition range of 80–90 CE for Luke’s Gospel.
Approximately 80–90 CE
USCCB reports a proposed composition range of 80–90 CE for Luke’s Gospel.
Around 80–90 CE · common scholarly proposal
The USCCB introduction to Acts refers the date of Acts to its introduction to Luke, the first volume of the same work, which says many scholars propose A.D. 80–90 for Luke’s composition. This approximates the two-volume work;
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Around 80–90 CE · common scholarly proposal
The USCCB introduction to Acts refers the date of Acts to its introduction to Luke, the first volume of the same work, which says many scholars propose A.D. 80–90 for Luke’s composition. This approximates the two-volume work;
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Around 80–90 CE · common scholarly proposal
The USCCB introduction to Acts refers the date of Acts to its introduction to Luke, the first volume of the same work, which says many scholars propose A.D. 80–90 for Luke’s composition. This approximates the two-volume work;
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
80–100 CE · Kirby’s later dating
Peter Kirby’s Early Christian Writings assigns 80–100 CE and argues for a later author writing in Paul’s name.
Reign of Domitian (81–96 CE), probably near its end · USCCB
The USCCB introduction says the date of the book in its present form is probably near the end of the reign of Domitian (A.D. 81–96). The source favors the last years of the reign.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Reign of Domitian (81–96 CE), probably near its end · USCCB
The USCCB introduction says the date of the book in its present form is probably near the end of the reign of Domitian (A.D. 81–96). The source favors the last years of the reign.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Around 85 CE
Around 85 CE
John Dominic Crossan, in the PBS Frontline transcript, places Matthew around the year 85. This is a book-composition estimate.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Around 85 CE
John Dominic Crossan, in the PBS Frontline transcript, places Matthew around the year 85. This is a book-composition estimate. The PBS Matthew profile gives the broader 80–90 CE range.
Book-level approximate composition date.
Around 85 CE
Book-level composition estimate follows the existing Matthew assertion sourced to PBS Frontline.
Approximate date of the whole biblical work
Around 85 CE
John Dominic Crossan, in the PBS Frontline transcript, places Matthew around the year 85. This is a book-composition estimate.
Crossan’s approximate year (‘say in the year 85’) for the whole Gospel
Approximately 90–95 CE · one proposed range
Early Christian Writings gives 90–95 CE; USCCB places Revelation’s present form near the end of Domitian’s reign. This follows the late-date view.
Some passages give a span of time, a relative deadline or a condition. Explore those expressions here, with the words and context that define them.
112 timing expressions
General Latter-day Saint · Relative deadline
Before the great and dreadful day of the Lord
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord
Elijah’s sending precedes the day of the Lord.
The Book of Mormon
Read these words in the passage → Source edition ↗General Judaism · Minimum interval
No fewer than eighty-five jubilee periods, the son of David coming in the last
no less than eighty-five jubilaic periods
Elijah tells Rav Yehudah that the world will last no fewer than eighty-five jubilees and that the son of David will come in the last jubilee, but does not know whether at its beginning or end. The source states the count.
Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin
Read these words in the passage → Source edition ↗Buddhist — Mahāyāna · Duration
In the last 500 years, during the decay of the good Law
in the last 500 years, during the time of the decay of the good Law
Subhūti asks whether people will understand the teaching during its decay. The Buddha answers that wise bodhisattvas will still do so in that last five-hundred-year period; Müller’s attached note gives his reading of the sequence.
Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā (Diamond Sutra)
Read these words in the passage → Source edition ↗Zoroastrian · Duration
57 years
until fifty-seven years have passed; then the Resurrection will come
The duration follows Siavashani’s restoration and the end of altercation.
Ulema-i Islam, second treatise — new English translation of Blochet
Read these words in the passage → Source edition ↗Zoroastrian · Duration
400 years
for four hundred years these truths will spread more and more throughout the world
The propagation follows Oshedar Bami’s restoration.
Ulema-i Islam, second treatise — new English translation of Blochet
Read these words in the passage → Source edition ↗General Latter-day Saint · Duration
Four years; a meeting each year
neither would it, until four years from that time
The history reports that the messenger said the plates could not be obtained for four years and that Joseph Smith should return to the place each year until then (verses 53–54).
Joseph Smith—History
Read these words in the passage → Source edition ↗Islam — Ahmadiyya · Relative deadline
Within three centuries of October 1903
the third century from this day will not be completed
The limit runs from the day of writing (October 1903).
Tadhkiratush-Shahadatain (The Two Martyrs), English excerpt
Read these words in the passage → Source edition ↗General Christianity · Relative deadline
Within the generation that saw Israel reborn on 14 May 1948
I believe absolutely that time will be during this generation
Lindsey dates the start of the “prophetic countdown” to Israel’s rebirth on 14 May 1948, says “WE ARE THE GENERATION HE WAS TALKING ABOUT!”, and places the rapture “during this generation.” He adds, “We won’t know the exact day or hour … but we can know the general time.”
The 1980’s: Countdown to Armageddon · Hal Lindsey, The 1980’s: Countdown to Armageddon (Bantam, 1981; © 1980), pp. 12, 162–163 and 170; short excerpt.
Read this commentary at its passage → Source edition ↗Jewish / Christian — Shared scriptures · Duration
The fourth beast’s kingdom lasts 500 years
will reign 500 years
Hippolytus assigns 330 years to Persia, 300 to the Greeks and 500 to the fourth beast (Rome), before the ten horns and Antichrist.
Commentary on Daniel (fragments) · Hippolytus, fragments on Daniel: the interpretation of the visions of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, sections 3–7; S. D. F. Salmond translation, Ante-Nicene Fathers V (1886), pp. 178–179.
Read this commentary at its passage → Source edition ↗Islam — Twelver Shiʿa · Alternative durations
Six days, six months, or six years
Six days, or six months, or six years.
Report 7 gives these alternatives in the answer attributed to Ali. The surrounding report also speaks of new determinations.
Al-Kafi — The Occultation
Read these words in the passage → Source edition ↗General Christianity · Duration
666 years, of which almost 600 are completed
ex quibus jam pene sexcenti sunt anni completi
Innocent applies the number of the beast to the years of Muhammad’s faith and says almost six hundred of the 666 have passed, so that the end of the beast approaches.
Quia maior · Innocent III, Quia maior (1213), PL 216, col. 818; English translation by Rainbow Watch (2026)
Read this commentary at its passage → Source edition ↗General Judaism · Duration
75 years beyond the 1260 years ended in 1792; 43 years from 1825
in 75 years, over and beyond the 1260
Irving ends the 1260 years in 1792 and adds the 75 years by which the 1335 days exceed them; writing in 1825, he counts 43 years to the commencement of the blessed reign of Christ. By arithmetic the two figures give 1867 and 1868.
Babylon and Infidelity Foredoomed of God (Philadelphia, 1828), pp. 81–82 · Edward Irving, Babylon and Infidelity Foredoomed of God (Philadelphia, 1828), pp. 81–82; written in 1825.
Read this commentary at its passage → Source edition ↗